Lula manager lauds men for cleaning graffiti

LULA - Lula City Manager Dennis Bergin said he can't say enough to thank the two men who cleaned up the vandalism at Lula Veterans Park over the weekend.

Last Thursday morning, some city workers discovered the vandalism. Someone had spray-painted parts of the brick wall that's part of the park in the city's downtown.

City workers had tried to remove the paint through pressure washing, city councilman Norm Harrop said last week.

On Monday, Bergin said two men came unannounced Sunday and cleaned up all of the vandalism at the park. Bergin said the two men were Reece Gilmer and Marshall Smith.

"The city is humbled by their efforts and cannot say enough in appreciation of efforts on the community behalf. Clearly, the effort of these two individuals speaks volumes as to their individual character and to their employer," Bergin said in an email.

Gilmer is the manager of the Gainesville Home Depot store and Smith is a store associate.

Authorities continue to look for the person or persons responsible for the vandalism.

Harrop, who is also the president of the Lula Historical Society, last week said the society would offer a $500 reward to anyone who can offer information to authorities that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.